Proverbs 17:17 A Friend LOVETH at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Oh People, that’s one of the two most profound statements made in the history of humanity; ‘A Friend LOVETH at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.’ And what’s the other? ‘Man’s inhumanity to man, makes countless thousands mourn.’ Exactly what’s happening around our world right now; strife, oppression, war, genocide, all the negatives attached to inhumane acts, or as we call them in our politically correct society, ‘crimes against humanity.’ Hn! Granted, it’s been happening for eons, but the world was not as widely populated, neither were communications so speedy, so it did not seem as woeful. But regardless of how, when and where it occurs, it’s still a very sad commentary on the human species, and must constantly bring tears of sorrow to our Heavenly Father’s eyes, causing Him to doubt the wisdom of His creation, because all the nonsense we perpetrate against each other benefits nobody. The terrorism and suicidal stupidity, the fear mongering, the military aggression, Russia cutting off supplies of gas to Europe, in the dead of winter, because of a money dispute with the Ukraine, through which the gas is routed, the rioting in Greece, Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and the list goes on. Whom does all that senseless destruction, inhumane, greedy, retaliatory attitudes help eh? Nobody! It just breeds more of the same senseless anger and violence, solving nothing, only proving our thoughtless, blood-thirsty stupidity. But if we were really the smartest animal on earth, as we claim, then we’d be following the axiom, ‘A Friend LOVETH at all times and a brother is born for adversity.’ That would prove we’re the smartest, and also please our Creator immensely, giving His tear ducts a much needed rest. And the best way to explain the statement is by giving examples. Let’s start with Ruth. We know the story; that after Naomi’s husband and two sons died, she decided to go back to her own country, telling her daughters-in-law to do the same. One, Orprah did. But Ruth pleaded: ‘Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.’ (Ruth 1.16-17) Though Ruth’s ties to Naomi died with her husband, she felt that strong urge to stay with her, knowing that Naomi’s future was rather dim at her age, with no men folk to look after her in a very patriarchal society. And it was rough with them both, Ruth having to scavenge behind the gleaners in the field for food, until the Lord intervened through Boaz, a distant but wealthy cousin of Naomi’s. He eventually married Ruth and they had a son, Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of Bruh David. People yuh see how the Lord moves? And there was Bruh David himself; the LOVE his wife Michal, Saul’s daughter showed when she helped him escape from her father by letting him down a rope through a window, then camouflaging his bed with pillows and goat hair, claiming he was sick. When Saul discovered her ruse and blew up at her, she simply claimed, ‘He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?’ (1 Sam.19:17) Bruh David’s friendship with Saul’s son, Jonathan, and the bond they swore to look after each other’s family, is another example of friends standing together. Jonathan also deceived his father to save Bruh David’s life, even back chatting Saul and getting him so angry that he threw a javelin at him. Then after Jonathan’s demise, Bruh David championed his crippled son Mephibosheth by restoring all his family’s property and having him eat always at his table. The same goes for Elijah and Elisha. When the Lord wanted to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah told Elisha that the Lord had summoned him to Bethel, but he should stay in Gilgal. Elisha replied, ‘As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.’ (2 Kings 2:2) At Bethel the same thing happened, so they went down to Jericho. And so it went, until after they crossed the Jordan River, Elijah was eventually taken up in a chariot of fire, which Elisha saw, and so received his last request, a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Oh Friends, that’s what brotherly LOVE and Friendship are about: People sticking to people both in good and bad times, not deserting the ship like scared rats as soon as it springs a leak, or only being in it for one’s own selfish purposes. And to top it all off Friends, we have the greatest act of LOVE and Friendship that’s ever taken place: Jesus coming to earth as a human being, to die for us, so that our sins could be forgiven and our souls cleansed. He told His disciples: ‘This is my commandment, That ye LOVE one another, as I have LOVED you. Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ (John 15:12-13) Then He went out and laid down His life for us, proving by example, His LOVE and Friendship. Now we need to reciprocate that LOVE and Friendship? How? Jesus said, ‘Ye are my Friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.’ (John 15:14) Oh people, let’s follow His humble example nuh, and do as He asks? Our world, and our children’s would be so much better off for it. And compared to what He’s done for us, it’s precious little that He asks. Much LOVE!…a true friend…has unquenchable LOVE…that is not diminished by adversity…
Oh People, that’s one of the two most profound statements made in the history of humanity; ‘A Friend LOVETH at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.’ And what’s the other? ‘Man’s inhumanity to man, makes countless thousands mourn.’ Exactly what’s happening around our world right now; strife, oppression, war, genocide, all the negatives attached to inhumane acts, or as we call them in our politically correct society, ‘crimes against humanity.’ Hn! Granted, it’s been happening for eons, but the world was not as widely populated, neither were communications so speedy, so it did not seem as woeful. But regardless of how, when and where it occurs, it’s still a very sad commentary on the human species, and must constantly bring tears of sorrow to our Heavenly Father’s eyes, causing Him to doubt the wisdom of His creation, because all the nonsense we perpetrate against each other benefits nobody. The terrorism and suicidal stupidity, the fear mongering, the military aggression, Russia cutting off supplies of gas to Europe, in the dead of winter, because of a money dispute with the Ukraine, through which the gas is routed, the rioting in Greece, Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and the list goes on. Whom does all that senseless destruction, inhumane, greedy, retaliatory attitudes help eh? Nobody! It just breeds more of the same senseless anger and violence, solving nothing, only proving our thoughtless, blood-thirsty stupidity. But if we were really the smartest animal on earth, as we claim, then we’d be following the axiom, ‘A Friend LOVETH at all times and a brother is born for adversity.’ That would prove we’re the smartest, and also please our Creator immensely, giving His tear ducts a much needed rest. And the best way to explain the statement is by giving examples. Let’s start with Ruth. We know the story; that after Naomi’s husband and two sons died, she decided to go back to her own country, telling her daughters-in-law to do the same. One, Orprah did. But Ruth pleaded: ‘Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.’ (Ruth 1.16-17) Though Ruth’s ties to Naomi died with her husband, she felt that strong urge to stay with her, knowing that Naomi’s future was rather dim at her age, with no men folk to look after her in a very patriarchal society. And it was rough with them both, Ruth having to scavenge behind the gleaners in the field for food, until the Lord intervened through Boaz, a distant but wealthy cousin of Naomi’s. He eventually married Ruth and they had a son, Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of Bruh David. People yuh see how the Lord moves? And there was Bruh David himself; the LOVE his wife Michal, Saul’s daughter showed when she helped him escape from her father by letting him down a rope through a window, then camouflaging his bed with pillows and goat hair, claiming he was sick. When Saul discovered her ruse and blew up at her, she simply claimed, ‘He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?’ (1 Sam.19:17) Bruh David’s friendship with Saul’s son, Jonathan, and the bond they swore to look after each other’s family, is another example of friends standing together. Jonathan also deceived his father to save Bruh David’s life, even back chatting Saul and getting him so angry that he threw a javelin at him. Then after Jonathan’s demise, Bruh David championed his crippled son Mephibosheth by restoring all his family’s property and having him eat always at his table. The same goes for Elijah and Elisha. When the Lord wanted to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah told Elisha that the Lord had summoned him to Bethel, but he should stay in Gilgal. Elisha replied, ‘As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.’ (2 Kings 2:2) At Bethel the same thing happened, so they went down to Jericho. And so it went, until after they crossed the Jordan River, Elijah was eventually taken up in a chariot of fire, which Elisha saw, and so received his last request, a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Oh Friends, that’s what brotherly LOVE and Friendship are about: People sticking to people both in good and bad times, not deserting the ship like scared rats as soon as it springs a leak, or only being in it for one’s own selfish purposes. And to top it all off Friends, we have the greatest act of LOVE and Friendship that’s ever taken place: Jesus coming to earth as a human being, to die for us, so that our sins could be forgiven and our souls cleansed. He told His disciples: ‘This is my commandment, That ye LOVE one another, as I have LOVED you. Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ (John 15:12-13) Then He went out and laid down His life for us, proving by example, His LOVE and Friendship. Now we need to reciprocate that LOVE and Friendship? How? Jesus said, ‘Ye are my Friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.’ (John 15:14) Oh people, let’s follow His humble example nuh, and do as He asks? Our world, and our children’s would be so much better off for it. And compared to what He’s done for us, it’s precious little that He asks. Much LOVE!…a true friend…has unquenchable LOVE…that is not diminished by adversity…
SCRIP-BITS 